Frederick a



E 0N ME Dm EG RM (No Model.)

1\Io.596,618.r Patented Jan. 4,1898.

Nimm) STATESN .PATENT Fries.

FREDERICK A. REDMON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM R. SMEDBERG, OF SAME PLACE.

CHAIN-TIGHTIENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 596,618, dated January 4, 1898. Application nea August 10,1397. serial No. 647,733. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: gear G, which engages with the worm, from Beit known that I, FREDERICK A. REDMON, which it derives a rotary motion. Secured a citizen of the United States, residing at San upon the shaft F is a sprocket H, having re- Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and cesses 4, which engage with thechain-links in 5 State of California, have invented certain new succession when power is applied, the chain 55 and useful Improvements in Chain-Tightenbeing guided straight by the base and the ers; and I do hereby declare that the following links being tangent to the sprocket. The

is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. free end of the chain passes through holes 5 6 My invention is a mechanical device for in the hood and may remain free, since such Io tightening chains used in binding and securchain is locked by the tightener. 6o ing loads of lumber, dac., the object being to The screw-gearing shown is self-locking provide a portable tightening apparatus and non-slipping and cannot be caused to which can be readily attached to and then yield by the backward strain of the chain, form part of the binding-chain and be carried since it requires a positive turning of the op- 15 with such chain on the wagon in readiness erating-shaft to move it. 65 for use. The construction of the tightener I do not limit myself to the details ofcoualso renders it self-locking or non-slipping to struction shown and described, nor to the exthe backward strain of the chain without renact form of gearing, which, nevertheless, I dering it necessary to employ adjustable prefer to use. Vithin the limits of the folzo clutches or any independent locking means. lowing claims modifications and equivalents 7o For tightening the binding chains around can be employed without departing from the loads of lumber, &c., the means commonly spirit of my invention. employed is a bar by which the chain is What I claim as new, and desire to secure twisted to take up the slack; but in practice by Letters Patent, is-

2 5 this device is only of temporary use, since the l. A chain tightener consisting of a 75 chain soon becomes loose again. sprocket, non-yielding gearing for driving My invention is fully hereinafter describe and holding the same, and means for guiding and is shown in the accompanying drawings, the free end of the chain in engagement with in which vsaid sprocket.

3o Figurel is a vertical cross-section. Fig. 2 2. A chain-tightener comprising a base- 8o is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a cross-'secplate tojvhich one end of the chain is secured, tion at right angles to Fig. l. Fig. tis aside and along which the free end of the chain is. elevation of the sprocket when in engagement guided, a sprocket mounted upon said base with the chain. I and engaging the chain-links, and means for 3 5 A represents an ordinary link chain which turning and holding said sprocket. 85

may be supposed to encircle a load of any 3. A chain tightener comprising a basecharacter. One end of the chain is hooked plate, having means for attaching one end of to the base-plate B of the tightener preferthe chain,a hood secured to said base, awormably by a hook l and clevis 2. The free end shaft, and a counter-shaft having a pinion 4o of the chain after passing around the load is engaging with said worm and carrying a 9o guided over the base-plate preferably in a sprocket to'engage with the chain-links. channel 3, formed in such base-plate, Fig. 3. 4. In a chain-tightener, and in combina- To the base is bolted a hood C, Vwhich incloses tion, a base-plate having means for attaching the mechanism and also, in connection with one end of a chain, and a channel-guide for 45 the base, provides bearings for the `pins or the free end of said chain, asprocket adapted 95 shafts which apply the power used in tighttoengage the chain-links, and no n-yielding ening. Such a shaft D carries a worm E and gearing for operating and holding said has a square end to receive a crank. Ansprocket. Y other shaft F, journaled in the hood and in a 5. In a chain-tightener, and in combina- 5o plane at right angles to shaft D, carries a tion abase-plate, a hood secured thereto, and roo having openings for the passage of the free signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this end of a chain Whose other end is secured to 31st day of July, 1897.

said base aWorm-shafb journaled in said hood and base), and a driven Shaft journaled in FREDERICK A' REDMON' 5 the hood and carrying a sprocket adapted to VLnesses:

engage Jshe chain-links. L. W. SEELY,

In testimony whereof I have affixed my M. R. SEELY. 

